Shiftable mine prop arrangement and process for shifting mine props



3,077,741 ocEss A. HAARMANN SHIFTABLE MINE PROP ARRANGEMENT AND PR FOR SHIFTING MINE PROPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Arnv/d HAAPMANN Feb. 19, 1963 Filed Dec.

' A. HAARMANN Feb- 19, 1963 SHIFTABLE: MINE PROP ARRANGEMENT AND PROCESSEO?774I FOR SHIFTING MINE PROPS 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 2, 1957 /N VEN T01? Amo/d HAAP/1A NN United States Patent O 3,077,74l liihl'shihhl Mits@ PRS? ARRAN'SEll/EENT AND PRINCESS FR Hll'l'llN'G MENE PRPS Arnold Haarrnann, Hermann-Lons-Strasse 1l, Dortmnnduflartenstadt, Germany Filed Der. 2, i957, Ser. No. 7lli,llo7 Claims priority, application Germany Dec. 3, 1%6 d Claims. (Cl. dlt-d) The present invention relates to mines.

More particularly, the present invention relates to prop arrangements in mines.

From time to time during the working of a mine face of a mine gallery it is necessary to shift the props toward the mine face which is being worked, and considerable difficulty is involved in carrying out such shifting, particularly where the iloor of the mine gallery is inclined so that the props have a tendency to slip down the floor when they are released from the roof of the mine gallery. Also, particular problems are involved by the fact that the props are located so closed to each other that it is diicult to shift one prop past another prop.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a mine prop shifting process which enables the props to be easily and quickly shifted without interfering with each other and without risking slipping of the props downwardly along an inclined surface of a mine aliery. i

Another object of the present invention is to provide a process which enables this result to be accomplished even where the props are located quite close together.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which will facilitate the performance of the above process and which will guarantee that props do not slide undesirably down an inclined floor of a mine gallery while the props are shifted.

With the above objects in view, the present invention includes in a mine gallery having a pair of rows of props extending parallel to the mine face which is being worked with one of the rows oi props located between the mine face and the other of the rows of props and with the props of this one row respectively arranged opposite the spaces between the props of the other row, the process which includes the step of shifting the props of the row roost distant from the mine face between the spaces of the props of the row nearer to the mine face, respectively, toward the mine face so that the row of props which was more distant from the rnine face becomes located nearer to the saine than the row between which they were shifted.

Also in accordance with the above objects the present invention includes the provision of a guide rail removably connected to the base plate of a prop of the row nearer to the mine face and extending transversely across the mine gallery for guiding prop during shifting thereof toward the mine face while at the saine time preventting slipping of the prop downwardly along the inclined floor of the mine gallery during shifting of the prop.

rEhe novel features which are considered as characteristie for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. rIlle invention itself, however both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FlG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view, which is schematic in nature, of a mine gallery provided with a mine prop arrangement of the present invention;

HG. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken along line il-il of FlG. 1;

ll'illl Patented Feh. i9, l

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevational View taken along line lillll of FIG. 1; and

FG. 4 is a sectional elevational view taken along line lV-lV of FiG. l in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen from FlG. 1 that the mine face Z which is being worked is located at the right side of FIG. 1 while a conveyor 3 is shown schematically in FlG. 1 and extends along this mine face. The opposite or back-lill face of the mine gallery is shown at l. As is apparent from FlG. 2, each of the props Al, AZ, A3, Bl, BZ includes a base plate 5 as well as an elongated prop member (l xed to and extending upwardly from the base plate 5 and terminating at its top end in a top or cap plate 7 which engages the roof of the rnine gallery. These props are of conventional construction so that they are not described or shown in greater' detail, and they include releasable lock devices which maintain the props in their eX panded operating condition illustrated in FIG. 2 and which are capable of being actuated to release the props so that their top ends move downwardly to permit the props to be shifted.

lt will be noted from FiG. 1 that there is a row of props B extending parallel to the mine face 2 and located nearer thereto than the row of props A shown in FiG. l, and furthermore the props of these two rows are arranged in staggered relation with respect to each other so that the props Al, A2, A3 of one of these rows are respectively located opposite the spaces between the props of the other or. these rows.

The props are each provided with a base plate 5 shown in detail in PEG. 4, and each base plate is elongated and of substantially rectangular configuration. The mine gallery is inclined at its oor and ceiling, and the arrow x of FiG. l shows the direction of downward inclination. ln other words, with reference to FIG. 1, at the lower part of FIG. l the oor of the mine gallery has a lower elevation than the lioor of the mine gallery shown at the upper part of FIG. l. The base plates 5 are made of metal and have relatively smooth surfaces in engagement with the oor of the mine gallery so that when the lock device d is released to free the prop from the rooi` of the mine gallery, there is a tendency for the prop to slip downwardly along the inclined door. It will be noted that the elongated base plates S extend longitudinally in the direction of inclination of the floor of the mine gallery while the props i instead of being arranged centrally of their base plates are displaced upwardly toward the ends of the base plates which are of higher elevation, so that in this way a stable prop arrangement is provided and there is no tendency for a prop to tip or tilt because of the inclination of the mine gallery after the prop is released from the roof thereof.

According to the process of the present invention the props of the row rnost distant from the mine face, which is to say the row A of FIG. 1, are shifted through the spaces, respectively, e'tween the props Bl, BZ of the row nearer to the mine face, which is to say the row B, so that these props of the row A form a new row of props C which is now nearer to the mine face. The dotted line prop All shown at the upper left portion of FIG. 1 has already been shifted to the row C and is shown in solid lines at the upper right portion of FiG. 1. Then the next lower prop A2 of row A is shifted, and this prop will assume the position of the dotted line prop A2. illustrated in row C, and in the condition of the parts illustrated in FIG. 1 the lower left prop A3 of row A has not yet been shifted. In this way the props of the row A are successively shifted through the spaces between the props Bl, B2 of the row B with the props at the higher elevation being shifted before the props at the lower elevation, and it will be noted that because of the stagg-ered arrangement of the props 3 of the rows the props can be easily and quickly shifted without interfering with each other. The distance between the props of each row is somewhat greater than the lengths of the base plates 5, so that there is sufficient space for the ibase plates to move freely through the spaces between the props B1, B2 of the row B. 0f course, after the mine face 2 has been worked sufficiently, the row C will have the same relative position with respect to the mine face as the row B of lFIG. l, and then this row B will be shifted through the spaces between the props of the row C, so Ithat in this way the props can be conveniently shifted during the mining operation.

As was pointed out above there is a tendency for the props to shift downwardly along the inclined surface of the mine gallery, and in order to prevent such shifting a guide rail 8 is provided in accordance with the present invention. This guide rail 8 is in the form o-f an angle iron, as is particularly apparent from FIGS. 3 and 4, and it is placed at the transverse edge of highest elevation of the base plateS of therprop of the -row B which is the next lower prop with respect to the prop of the row A which is to be shifted, as is apparent from FIG. l. The elongated guide rail S extends transversely across the mine gallery and `it is sufficiently long so that its left end overlaps the edge` of lowest elevation of the base plate of the prop which is to be shifted while its right end, as viewed in FIG. l, overlaps the prop when it has reached the final position to which it is to be shifted so that in this way the guide rail 8 reliably guides the props during the entire shifting thereof. The distances between the props of each rowV are somewhat greater than the lengths of the base plates 5 so that there is sufficient clearance for these base plates as they move through the spaces between the adjacent row of props. Thus, when the prop A2 of row A is to be shifted its edge of lowest elevation engages and slides along the leg of the angle iron S which extends substantially vertically and which overlaps the edge of highest elevation of the prop B2 of row B. Inasmuch as, because of the clearance, the props may shift downwardly along the inclined floor of the mine gallery to a slight extent, .the guide rail 8 is provided with an elongated end portion 9 which is cranked with respect to the remainder of the rail 8 and which is located at a slightly higher elevation along the inclined oor of the mine gallery than the remainder of the rail 8 so that this portion I9 of the rail guarantees that when each prop reaches its final position in row C it will be at the same elevation along the inclined oor that it had before it was shifted. The distances between the rows of props are indicated at y in FIG. 1, and this distance may be on'the order of 80 cm., although this distance may be more or less than 80 cm. in particular cases.

In accordance with the present invention the surface of the guide rail 8 which engages the top face of a base plate 5 is provided with a pair of pins 10 which extend downwardly from this surface, which are xed to the guide rail, and which extend into recesses which are formed in the base plate and which have open top ends to receive the pins 10. In this way a convenient releasable connec tion between the guide rail and base plate is provided.

It is also possible in accordance with the present invention to shift the props in a similar manner when they are located so close together that the distance between the base plates of the props of each row is less than the length of each base plate. In this case the base plates of the props of the row A are shifted over the base plates of the props of the row B with the underside of the base plate of each prop of the row A located over the top side of the base plate of each prop of the row B. Of course, the elongated prop members 4 which are xed to and extend upwardly from the base plates 5, respectively, are spaced from each other by distances greater than the length of the base plates. IFor this purpose the leg of the angle iron 8 which engages the top face of the base plate 5 has downwardly inclined end portions which go down to the floor of the mine gallery so as to provide inclined surfaces up which and down which the base plates of the props of the row A move during shifting thereof. Thus, with this arrangement the base plate of the prop which is shifted slides along the upper leg of the angle iron which engages the top face of the base plate 5 of the row B, and the angle iron in this case will have an upwardly directed leg in a substantially vertical plane which engages the edge of lowest elevation of the shifted prop to prevent the latter from sliding down the inclined floor of the mine gallery. The cross sectional configuration of the rail in this case is such that the rail will not rock during movement of the base plate therealong.

It will be understood that each of `the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of mine props differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in shiftable mine props, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mine gallery having an elongated mine face and an inclined Hoor which changes in elevation along the length of the mine face, in combination, a pair of rows of spaced props arranged on said floor of said mine gallery parallel to said rnine face with one of said rows of props located nearer to said mine face than the other of said rows of props and with the props of said one row respectively arranged opposite the spaces between the props of the other row, said props each having a base plate in engagement with the oor of the mine gallery; and an elongated guide rail removably fixed to the edge of highest elevation of the base plate of one of the props of said one row and extending transversely across the gallery, said guide rail having a pair of spaced longitudinally extending portions, one of said portions engaging the base plate of said one of the props of said one row and cranked relative to the other of said portions, said other of said portions cooperating with the side sur face along the edge of lowest elevation of the base plate of the next upper prop of said other row for guiding said next upper prop along said guide rail through the space between said base plate of said one prop of said one row and the base plate of the next upper prop of said one row to a position nearer to the mine face than said one row, said rail preventing slipping of the prop in engagement therewith downwardly along the inclined floor of the mine gallery.

2. In a mine gallery having an elongated mine face and an inclined iioor which changes in elevation along the length of the mine face, in combination, a pair of rows of spaced props arranged on said floor of said mine gallery parallel to said mine face with one of said rows of props located nearer to said mine face than the other of said rows of props and with the props of said one row respectively arranged opposite the spaces between the props of the other row, said props each having a base plate in engagement with the lloor of the mine gallery; and an` elongated guide rail removably fixed to the edge of highest elevation of the base plate of one of the props of said one row and extending transversely across the gallery and cooperating with the side surface along the edge of lowest elevation of the base plate of the next upper prop of said other row for guiding said next upper prop along said guide rail through the space between said base plate of said one prop of said one row and the base plate of the next upper prop of said one row to a position nearer to the mine face than said one row, said rail preventing slipping of the prop in engagement therewith downwardly along the inclined iioor of the mine gallery, said rail having an end portion adjacent said mine face cranked with respect to the remainder of said rail and at a higher elevation along the inclined floor of the mine gallery than the remainder of said rail so that when the said next upper prop of said other row engages the cranked end portion of the guide rail it will be shifted back to the same elevation that it had in said other row.

3. In a mine gallery having an elongated mine face and an inclined oor which changes in elevation along the length of the mine face, in combination, a pair of rows of spaced props arranged on said floor of said mine gallery parallel to said mine face with one of said rows of props located nearer to said mine face than the other or" said rows of props and with the props of said one roW respectively arranged opposite the spaces between the props of the other row, said props each having a base plate in engagement with the floor of the mine gallery; and an elongated guide rail removably fixed to the edge of highest elevation of the base plate of one of the props of said one row and extending transversely across the gallery, said guide rail having a pair of spaced longitudinally extending portions, one of said portions engaging the base plate of said one of the props of said one row and cranked relative to the other of said portions, said other of said portions cooperating with the side surface along the edge of lowest elevation of the base plate of the next upper prop of said other row for guiding said next upper prop along said guide rail through the space between said base plate of said one prop of said one row and the base plate of the next upper prop of said one row to a position nearer to the mine face than said one row, said rail preventing slipping of the prop in engagement therewith downwardly along the inclined floor of the mine gallery, said rail being in the form of an elongated angle iron having one face engaging the top surface of the base plate of said one prop of said one row and having another face engaging a side surface along the uppermost edge of said base plate of said one prop of said one row.

4. In a mine gallery having an elongated mine face and an inclined floor which changes in elevation along the length of the mine face, in combination, a pair of rows of spaced props arranged on said oor of said mine gallery parallel to said mine face with one of said rows of props located nearer to said mine face than the other of said rows of props and with the props of said one row respectively arranged opposite the spaces between the props of the other row, said props each having a base plate in engagement with the floor of the mine gallery; and an elongated guide rail removably iixed to the edge of highest elevation of the base plate of one of the props of said one row and extending transversely across the gallery and cooperating with the side surface along the edge of lowest elevation of the base plate of the next upper prop of said other row for guiding said next upper prop along said guide rail through the space between said `base plate of said one prop of said one row and the base plate of the next -upper prop of said one row to a position nearer to the mine face than said one row, said rail preventing slipping of the prop in engagement therewith downwardly along the inclined iloor of the mine gallery, said rail being in the form of an elongated angle iron having one face engaging the top surface of the base plate of said one prop of said one row and having another face engaging a side surface along the uppermost edge of said -base plate of said one prop of said one row, said rail having a plurality of pins spaced from each other longitudinally of said rail and iixed to and extending downwardly from its face which engages the top face of said `base plate of said one prop of said one row, and the latter base plate having recess portions which receive said pins for removably connecting the guide rail to the latter base plate.

References Cited in the tile of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 817,286 Germany Oct. l5, 1951 916,164 Germany Aug. 5, 1954 722,352 Great Britain Jan. 26, 1955 22,361 Germany Aug. 9, 1956 

1. IN A MINE GALLERY HAVING AN ELONGATED MINE FACE AND AN INCLINED FLOOR WHICH CHANGES IN ELEVATION ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE MINE FACE, IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF ROWS OF SPACED PROPS ARRANGED ON SAID FLOOR OF SAID MINE GALLERY PARALLEL TO SAID MINE FACE WITH ONE OF SAID ROWS OF PROPS LOCATED NEARER TO SAID MINE FACE THAN THE OTHER OF SAID ROWS OF PROPS AND WITH THE PROPS OF SAID ONE ROW RESPECTIVELY ARRANGED OPPOSITE THE SPACES BETWEEN THE PROPS OF THE OTHER ROW, SAID PROPS EACH HAVING A BASE PLATE IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FLOOR OF THE MINE GALLERY; AND AN ELONGATED GUIDE RAIL REMOVABLY FIXED TO THE EDGE OF HIGHEST ELEVATION OF THE BASE PLATE OF ONE OF THE PROPS OF SAID ONE ROW AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE GALLERY, SAID GUIDE RAIL HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PORTIONS, ONE OF SAID PORTIONS ENGAGING THE BASE PLATE OF SAID ONE OF THE PROPS OF SAID ONE ROW AND CRANKED RELATIVE TO THE OTHER OF SAID PORTIONS, SAID OTHER OF SAID PORTIONS COOPERATING WITH THE SIDE SURFACE ALONG THE EDGE OF LOWEST ELEVATION OF THE BASE PLATE OF THE NEXT UPPER PROP OF SAID OTHER ROW FOR GUIDING SAID NEXT UPPER PROP ALONG SAID GUIDE RAIL THROUGH THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID BASE PLATE OF SAID ONE PROP OF SAID ONE ROW AND THE BASE PLATE OF THE NEXT UPPER PROP OF SAID ONE ROW TO A POSITION NEARER TO THE MINE FACE THAN SAID ONE ROW, SAID RAIL PREVENTING SLIPPING OF THE PROP IN ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH DOWNWARDLY ALONG THE INCLINED FLOOR OF THE MINE GALLERY. 